‘Forrest Gump’ Actress Breaks Silence: Was Jenny the Movie’s Real Villain?

Are you one of those “Forrest Gump” fans who have long felt that Jenny did Forrest wrong in the 1994 Oscar-winning classic?

To promote her new film “Here,” which reunites her with “Gump” co-star Tom Hanks and director Robert Zemeckis, actress Robin Wright (who portrayed Forrest’s love interest Jenny Curran) appeared on “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.” gave up and finally gave in. She takes up a popular fan opinion: Jenny is the true villain of the film.

Not that Forrest Gump is the type of movie that has or needs a traditional “villain,” but fans have debated the relationship between Jenny and Forrest’s friendship and romance, noting that Jenny doesn’t adequately reciprocate Forrest’s affinity for her .

RELATED: 35 Fascinating Facts About “Forrest Gump”

Zemeckis’ Oscar-winning adaptation of Winston Groom’s novel tells the incredible fictional story of a good-natured Alabama man who witnesses and participates in many of the defining events of American history in the second half of the 20th century.

Warning: Spoilers for “Forrest Gump” appear below.

In the film, we see the development of Forrest’s relationship with his childhood friend Jenny, for whom he repeatedly (and sincerely) expresses his love and affection and performs countless services. But he is often rejected.

Some would argue that this portrays Jenny as a cold-hearted person who, to borrow Forrest’s words, doesn’t know what love is when it’s right in front of her. However, others feel this is unfair to a character who was abused as a child and did everything she could to escape her childhood trauma and find meaning and happiness on her own terms. Jenny doesn’t owe Forrest any romantic love, despite his unwavering kindness.

Colbert asked Wright directly about the debate, noting that 2024 marks the 30th anniversary since the legendary film’s release, and she gave a pretty direct answer. At first, she said she only heard about the dispute minutes before she appeared on the show.

“You’ve never heard that before?” asked a questioning Colbert. “You did seen “Forrest Gump”?”

Then Wright gave her the chance.

“Think about how she treated Forrest,” she said. “Not great. He was always in love with her… and I said, “Okay, that’s great.” But you’re just my buddy. But I take off my bra, kiss you and then run from you’… and then he goes and does drugs and dates some Black Panther guy and gets AIDS and then says, ‘I’m going to die.’ Can I come and be with you?’ That’s not very nice.” (Wright is referring to Jenny dating her abusive white boyfriend Wesley, a member of the Students for a Democratic Society who attends a Black Panther meeting during the film.)

Colbert replies, “I’m not sure what Mom would have said,” referring to Forrest’s mother, played by Sally Field.

“So that’s settled,” the host says to Wright, who replies, “That’s settled.” That’s why we never did a sequel.”

“That and you’re dead,” Colbert joked.

READ: 10 films every Alabama resident should see

While most of the Best Picture winners are set in Alabama, Zemeckis filmed these scenes in South Carolina, Virginia and North Carolina. The film won six Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Actor (Tom Hanks), and grossed nearly $700 million worldwide.

Gump grows up in the fictional town of Greenbow, Alabama, and ends up playing football for the University of Alabama under Paul “Bear” Bryant. “Gump,” a cultural touchstone of the ’90s, has unfortunately fallen out of favor with many who find it fashionable to retroactively poke fun at this warm-hearted fable that cares so much about a main character who lives generations of kindness touched. But we still love it.

Robin Wright was the only person they read for the character of Jenny. “To cast her, you undoubtedly had to find someone who could convey, deep down, the emotions of a damaged and deeply hurt human being,” said producer Steve Starkey in the audio commentary on the 25th anniversary Blu-ray release. “Robin somehow managed to portray throughout the film that beneath the surface of her beauty was this pain within herself. She was the only person we read for the character of Jenny. She did a screen test with Tom and everyone came back and Bob said she was the one. The casting of this character was over.”